A spectacular journey from Tennessee to North Carolina in the USA on the Tail of the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway with a motorcycle.

Have you ever dreamt about being a dragon slayer? About conquering endless curves, just you and your vehicle? Here is where your dreams become reality. Ride with me from Tennesse to North Carolina at the southwest boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on two of America's most famous roads: The Tail of the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway.

Here is my itinerary for navigating through the Tail of the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway:
- From Townsend in Tennessee, take the so called Foothill Parkway. I was traveling the southern most 17 miles of Foothill Parkway, running from US 321 to US 129 at the Chilhowee Lake, where the Dragon would start.
- Stop at Chilhowee Lake. The lake provides part of the boundary between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest. This shallow 10-mile or 16 kilometer long water reservoir is more river-like, following a narrow, twisted route.
- Start your journey on the Tail of the Dragon: The Dragon (also known as The Tail of the Dragon) begins at Tabcat Creek Bridge in Tennessee and ends in North Carolina at the intersection of NC 28 and US 129. IT has 318 curves in 11 miles or 18 kilometers and is one of the most popular roads for motorcycle riders in the United States of America. The twisting road through the dense forest has several pull-offs to stop, watch the riders, and the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains.
- Make a rest or stay over night at Deals Gap. The famous Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort is also called the home of "The Dragon" and for sure the destination to stop for lunch or even a night if you try to tame the dragon with your motorcycle.
- Cross from Tennessee into North Caroline by following the curves of the dragon.
- At the end of the dragon continue on Highway 129 along Cheoh Lake all the way to Cheoh Dam.
- Turn off right at Joyce Kilmer Road. This road winds along beautiful Lake Santeetlah, which is one of most unspoiled lakes you'll find in the North Carolina mountains, and is often even called one of the most beautiful in the whole country.
- Hit Highway 143, the Cherohala Skyway. The Cherohala Skyway in Graham County is a 42-mile or 67 kilometer long winding National Scenic Byway and definitely one of the most scenic drives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The road crosses through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests - this is where the name comes from. “Chero-hala."


// A roadtrip that dreams are made of: join my journey through the United States of America. From Los Angeles in California on the westcoast to Miami in Florida on the eastcoast.
9,000 kilometers,
13 states,
28 days,
1 motorcycle

// NEW EPISODE OUT EVERY THURSDAY 19.30 CET

// Time of the journey: May-June 2021

// Welcome to the journey! I am Lea Rieck, a journalist and author and I want to take you with me on a motorcycle overlanding adventure to all the wild and beautiful places in the world!

// I circumnavigated the world solo from 2016-2017 and now I am going to all other places I have not seen yet. On the channel: my motorcycle trip around africa/ the first stage of the journey through westafrica, my motorcycle ride from Germany to North Cape "Expedition North" and the best places to do a roadtrip to in Europe. Cureently on the channel: CROSS-COUNTRY USA

// Riding a Yamaha Ténéré 700. Bought the motorcycle myself from the press fleet of Yamaha USA (thank you Yamaha USA for making this possible. Ténérés were short on stock at all dealers I required one at)

Watch the review of my european Yamaha Ténéré 700 here:
   • YAMAHA TÉNÉRÉ 700: The BEST motorcycl...  

//Equipment & Gear:
- Touratech Companero Summer Jacket & Pants (given to me by Touratech after my old suit got stolen on the ship from westafrica)
- BMW GS Gloves (self bought)
- Alpinestar Toucan Boots (self bought)
- Klim Krios Pro Helmet (self bought)

- Leatt Neckbrace (given to me by Leatt as my self-bought neckbrace was still in Africa)
- BMW Cooling Vest


Watch the review for my helmets here:
   • BEST MOTORCYCLE HELMETS FOR ADV RIDIN...  

//Filmed with:
Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Zoom
Camera: Sony Alpha A7 rIII
2 x Go Pro Hero 8
DJI OSMO Pocket
Iphone 12
Tripod: Manfrotto BeFree
Tripod Iphone: Joby GorillaPod
Editing Program: Final Cut Pro X

//Follow me on:
  / lea_rieck  
  / got2go.de  
http://www.learieck.de/

#tailofthedragon #cherohalaskyway #got2go #learieck